Heather Barmore, Director of Communications

Heather Barmore is a digital and political communications professional who currently serves as Director of Communications for VoteRunLead. Prior to joining VoteRunLead she was the Director of Advocacy at Planned Parenthood Affiliates of California (PPAC) and the Director of Digital Communications for Mayor Muriel Bowser of Washington, DC. She has also held positions with the Democratic National Convention Committee and the Democratic National Committee. Her political career began with an affinity for watching CSPAN’s Senate coverage, a passion she holds to this day. Heather is an advocate for women in politics and excellent storytelling. Her work has been featured in The Guardian, Refinery29, The Huffington Post and Mic. Heather has been on the Advisory Board of Running Start, a nonpartisan movement of young women leaders since 2014. Though a native upstate New Yorker, Heather will soon be calling New York City home. Contact: heather@voterunlead.org

Amanda O’Donnell, Chief Operating Officer

Amanda O’Donnell is a finance and operations expert who helps innovative and high-growth organizations build capacity to scale and significantly increase impact. She is passionate about empowering women and girls in leadership, bridging digital divides, and increasing diversity in our democratic systems. Amanda is thrilled to have joined VoteRunLead in 2017 as the organization’s first Chief Operations Officer.Prior to VoteRunLead, Amanda built over a decade of experience in the technology sector: as a founding member, CFO, and Partner at Control Group, where she developed financial and operational strategies that enabled the company’s transformation from startup to industry leader to acquisition and merger; and as SVP of Finance at Intersection, a Sidewalk Labs company committed to improving the urban experience, and the team leading LinkNYC. Throughout her time in the industry, Amanda has been a leader of Women in Technology initiatives. Amanda graduated summa cum laude from the University of Massachusetts with a degree in Environmental Science and earned her MPA from NYU-Wagner. She has been a Board Member of MOUSE, a national youth development nonprofit, since 2015. She is also a proud mom of two native New Yorkers. She resides in Brooklyn, works in Harlem, and loves to travel with her family to far-flung places with just one backpack and a Lonely Planet guide. Contact: amanda@voterunlead.org

Faith Winter, National Program Director

Faith Winter is currently a Colorado State Representative, Executive Director of Emerge Colorado and consultant for VoteRunLead. Faith has spent her entire career inspiring people to action whether it is the thousands of women she trained to run for office at The White House Project, the young voters she turned out in 2004, or engaging her constituents on important issues facing Westminster. In 2004 Faith was named one of 30 people under 30 showing political leadership by the Youth Vote Coalition, in 2008 she was named one of the top ten most influential women in Denver by the Denver Examiner, in 2010 she was named Woman of the year by Colorado Business and Professional Women northwest chapter, in 2012 she was named one of the up and coming women leaders to watch by the Denver Post, and in 2014 the Colorado Democratic Party named her rising star. Faith loves organizing because she believes the best way to create change is by building power through people. Faith is a VoteRunLead alum from Colorado Go Run. Contact: info@voterunlead.org

Maria Elena Garcia, Special Projects Manager

Maria Elena Garcia is the Special Projects Manager at VoteRunLead. Maria Elena previously interned for VoteRunLead as a Junior Project Manager in the summer and fall of 2017, managing our National 2017 training and alumnae outreach. She recently graduated from Barnard College of Columbia University with a BA in Sociology. Maria Elena is also a scholar in Barnard’s Athena Scholars Program, a program dedicated to training and studying women in leadership. She is dedicated to serving and empowering marginalized communities, particularly communities with women of color. She hopes to pursue a Masters in Public Policy and maybe one day you’ll see her in office. Contact: maria@voterunlead.org

Mark Vilardi, Events & Operations Manager

Growing up, Mark lived in a household filled with strong women, solidifying his passion for and belief in gender equality. For over a decade, Mark has worked almost every possible position in the hospitality and restaurant industry in New York City, fine-tuning his management and organizational skills. Mark is an advocate for LGBTQ and equal rights, and currently pursuing a degree in social work. His free time is spent volunteering, riding his bike, and enjoying a glass of rosé. Contact: mark@voterunlead.org

Tyler Shaffer, Lead Graphic Designer & Social Media Manager

Ty Shaffer is a conceptual, visual designer with a love for branding, typography, and creative direction. Ty is a graduate of the Columbus College of Art & Design, from where he earned his BFA in Advertising and Graphic Design. After completing his co-op as a design intern at The Switch: National Anti-Human Trafficking Network, he relocated to New York City. He’s excited to be a member of the VoteRunLead team, where he can continue to focus his design career on social justice and equality. Contact: ty@voterunlead.org

Starre Haas, National Program Manager

Starre Haas is the National Program Manager at VoteRunLead. She earned dual degrees in Accounting & Finance and is pursuing a Masters in Public Service (MPS) at the University of Arkansas Clinton School of Public Service and is a graduate of the Women’s Campaign School at Yale University. She is passionate about empowering women in leadership and civic engagement. Starre served as a Gender Equity Development Associate with the Women’s Foundation of Arkansas and as a Commissioner for the Little Rock City Beautiful Commission. She also served as an Advisory Committee Member for the Little Rock Capitol Zoning District Commission and was elected in 2016 as President of the Downtown Little Rock Neighborhood Association. Her focus on building civic engagement in communities is directly tied to a practice of participation in her hometown of Little Rock, Arkansas, where she lives with her husband Jordan and daughters, Ella and Scarlet. Contact: starre@voterunlead.org

Marissa Reyes, Program & Fundraising Fellow

Marissa Reyes is currently a student at Barnard College of Columbia University in New York City. She is majoring in Political Science and Economics, with a focus in American Politics. Throughout her undergraduate career, Marissa has managed a campaign for the first ever Latina to run for a local school board position in her school district and interned for the ACLU of Washington in Seattle, Washington. Marissa is passionate about public education reform, immigration policy reform, and equalizing access to higher education. When she’s not studying in the library, you can find Marissa jogging in Central Park or sharing a laugh with friends. Marissa is excited to be learning and working alongside the VoteRunLead team this fall. Contact: marissa@voterunlead.org

Katie Paris, Graphic Design & Social Media Fellow

Katie Paris is excited to join the VoteRunLead team as a Graphic Design & Social Media Fellow. Katie graduated from Bowdoin College in May 2018 with Visual Arts and Neuroscience majors. During her time in college she worked with and lead a group called “Safe Space,” in which students became trained advocates for those in the campus community who have been affected by sexual and gender violence. She also worked as the Graphic Designer for the college’s Student Activities Department. She is excited to continue pursuing a Graphic Design career while also working to support women’s empowerment and presence in government.

"VoteRunLead helped me realize that my education, my community service, and my years of experience as a business leader, educator and mother make me very qualified to effectively represent the people in my district and and legislate on their behalf."